The National Anti-Doping Agency’s disciplinary panel on Monday cleared Narsingh Yadav of doping charges, allowing the wrestler to participate at the Rio Olympics. With this, he can participate in Rio Olympics beginning on 5 August 2016.
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“It was indeed a very hard period for me as conspiracy had been hatched against me and even my Rio chances looked bleak at one stage, but the NADA panel showed faith in me and exonerated me from doping charges”, he said after the NADA’s clearance. The NADA panel did not specify who was behind the act. The panel noted that “while practicing, it is impossible to keep a watch on drinks, can not be held as failure on athlete’s part”. “I am grateful to Narendra Modi for helping me get justice”.
The panel reviewing Yadav’s case claimed the wrestler was a victim of foul play and that there is no evidence of any wrongdoing.
Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh celebrates with Narsingh Yadav. “He was a victim of sabotage done by a competitor”. So we sent Parveen Rana’s name as replacement, and told the world body that Narsingh would be sent if he is cleared.
WADA can still challenge NADA’s verdict in Court of Arbitration for Sport and jeopardise Narsingh’s chances to feature in Rio Games. He was placed under provisionally suspension since then. These unfortunate events were preceded by an ugly legal battle between Olympic Gold medalist Sushil Kumar, and Narsingh Yadav and the Wrestling Federation of India.
Yadav had won the Olympic quota for India in the 74 kg freestyle category at the 2015 World Championship and was named in the Indian squad ahead of two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar.
He ran into further trouble on July 27 after it was announced that a second test conducted on July 5 has also returned a positive result. He asked me to focus on winning medals for the country. I specially thank my backers, JSW Sports, for their unstinting support.
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The 26-year-old freestyle wrestler had said his supplements and water had been sabotaged and lodged a police complaint against a junior wrestler, accusing him of contaminating his food at the Sports Authority of India training centre in Sonepat.
